
CHURCH OF THE COVENANT, 
306-310 East42d Street. 



Jfortp treats of Covenant JileraejS 

A Description of Historic Memorials in the 
Church of the Covenant, 
New York City 

BY 

GEORGE SIDNEY WEBSTER, D.D., Pastor 

AND 

Addresses Delivered January 28th, 1906 

BY 

WILLIAM ROGERS RICHARDS, D.D. 

AND 

J. CLEVELAND CADY, LLD. 



Printed for Private Distribution 



NEW YORK 
MCMVI 



jforetoorb 



RECIOUS memories of persons and events are 
associated with the Church of the Covenant 
building and many of its furnishings. They 
indicate something of the evolution of a 
Family Church among the busy toilers of the East 
Side in New York, through the steps of Mission, 
Chapel, Collegiate Church, and now Affiliated Church, 
which ranks in numbers and efficiency with the aver- 
age of the Presbyterian churches in the city. These 
memorials are an eloquent testimony to the conse- 
crated wisdom and loyalty of the faithful men and 
women who have tried to build up a Church that is 
exemplifying its motto inscribed over the pulpit, 
"Come let us join ourselves to the Lord in a Perpetual 
Covenant." 

George S. Webster. 

Church of the Covenant Study. 
May i, 1906. 




Cfjurcf) of tfje Covenant 



T a service held in the chapel of the Home 
of the Friendless, Twenty-ninth Street near 
Madison Avenue, on November 25th, i860, 
the Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D., preached 
a sermon in which he said : "We inaugurate to-day a 
new Christian service. We do it in the hope that out 
of this humble beginning may spring up in due time 
another sanctuary in honor of our blessed Master; 
and that into that new sanctuary may be gathered a 
congregation of faithful people, who shall worship the 
Lord in the beauty of holiness." The preaching serv- 
ices continued for about a year in the Home of the 
Friendless, when the place of worship was changed to 
Dodworth's Hall, on the southwest corner of Fifth 
Avenue and Twenty-sixth Street. Here on February 
23d, 1862, it was determined to organize a church 
under the pastoral care of Dr. Prentiss. The church 
was organized March 21st, 1862, with eighty-three 
members. Dr. Prentiss was elected pastor March 
30th, 1862. The name "Church of the Covenant" was 
adopted April 4th, and the pastor was installed May 
nth, 1862. The corner stone of the Church at the 
northwest corner of Thirty-fifth Street and Park Ave- 
nue, was laid November 5th, 1863. The following 
hymn was written for this occasion by the pastor's 
wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss. 



5 



W$t Cornerstone 

"A temple, Lord, we raise ; 
Let all the walls be praise 

To Thee alone. 
Draw near, O Christ, we pray, 
To lead us on our way, 
And be Thou now and aye 

Our Corner-stone. 

In humble faith arrayed 
We these foundations laid 

In war's dark day ; 
Oppression's reign o'erthrown, 
Sweet peace once more our own, 
Do Thou the topmost stone 

Securely lay. 

And when each earth-built wall, 
Crumbling to dust, shall fall, 

Our work still own ; 
Be to each faithful heart 
That here hath wrought its part 
What in Thy Church Thou art— 

A Corner-stone." 



The first services were held in the Chapel which was 
completed May 226., 1864. The Church was dedicated 
April 30th, 1865. The parsonage adjoining the 
Church on Thirty-fifth Street was completed two years 
later. The entire cost of Church and parsonage was 
$160,000. The last services were held in this Church 
Sunday, February nth, 1894, and Wednesday eve- 
ning, February 14th, 1894. This Church was con- 
solidated with the Brick Presbyterian Church April 
1 2th, 1894. The property was sold for $315,000, of 
which $290,000 became a part of the endowment fund 
of the consolidated churches. The pictures of this 
Church are from photographs taken by Mr. Alfred R. 
Kimball in 1887 and 1889. 



6 




GEORGE LEWIS PRENTISS, D.D. 



Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D. 



In 1858 the seven years pastorate of the Rev. Dr. 
Prentiss, at the Mercer Street Presbyterian Church, 
New York, came to an end by his resignation on 
account of his health. He returned from Europe in 
i860, and his friends persuaded him to preach to them. 
As a result the Church of the Covenant was organized, 
and he was installed pastor May nth, 1862. This 
position he filled with distinguished ability until 
February 12th, 1873, when he resigned to accept the 
"Skinner and McAlpin Professorship of Pastoral 
Theology, Church Polity, and Mission Work," in the 
Union Theological Seminary of New York. He con- 
tinued in active service in the Seminary until his re- 
tirement, as Professor Emeritus, January 12th, 1897. 
But through his writings and personal wise counsel 
he gave invaluable assistance to this institution until 
his death on March 18th, 1903. During the last years 
of his life Dr. Prentiss was most lovingly interested 
in the work of this Church, which was begun during 
his pastorate. His portrait in the middle parlor was 
presented by a former member of his session, Mr. 
William H. Helme Moore, on April 19th, 1903, when 
the entire day was devoted to services in honor of his 
memory. A full report of these services, including 
the addresses of the Rev. Charles A. Stoddard, D.D., 
and of Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, were published in the 
New York Observer, April 23d, 1903, to whose cour- 
tesy we are indebted for the accompanying picture of 
the first pastor and always the loving friend of the two 
Churches of the Covenant. 



7 



Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. 

The second pastor, the Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, 
D.D., was installed May 8th, 1873. With splendid 
scholarly pulpit ability and loving pastoral efficiency 
he served the Church until November, 1887, when he 
resigned to become the "Baldwin Professor of Sacred 
Literature" in the Union Theological Seminary, New 
York, a position which he is now filling with distinc- 
tion and honor. Sunday morning, January 27th, 
1 90 1, Dr. Vincent preached the Thirty-fifth Anni- 
versary sermon from the text Genesis 32:9, 10, In 
this sermon he said: "It is nearly thirty years since I 
came to the Church of the Covenant. It is thirteen 
years since I laid down its pastorate. The fifteen 
years of my stay and labor there are crowded with 
delightful memories. It is all behind me now, but 
there is one consolation for every faithful workman 
in Christ's vineyard, that his work is not lost, however 
his immediate associations may be broken up; that it 
reproduces itself in other forms, and in other years." 
The portrait of Dr. Vincent, in our middle parlor, 
was the gift of friends who were members of the 
Church of the Covenant during his pastorate, and was 
presented to us December, 1903. 

Rev. James Hall McIlvaine, D.D. 

On December 17th, 1888, Dr. McIlvaine was in- 
stalled pastor and continued in this relationship until 
the consolidation of the Church of the Covenant with 
the Brick Church, April 12th, 1894, when, with the 
Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., he became co-ordinate 
pastor of the Brick Church. During his pastorate 
there was inaugurated the collegiate system in the 
Church by the regular call through the Presbytery 



s 



CHURCH OF THE COVENANT, 1889, 
Park Avenue and Thirty-fifth Street. 



of Rev. George S. Webster as associate pastor to have 
charge of the congregation worshipping at Covenant 
Chapel. This was an important step in the develop- 
ment of the present Church. It recognized the desire 
of the people worshipping in the Mission Chapel for 
more permanent Church organization. It also gave 
their pastor a better standing in the Presbytery and 
in the city. By this plan there was held to the Church 
several families who had determined to unite with 
other churches unless the Mission system was changed. 
They became a valuable nucleus for the effective pres- 
ent organization. Dr. Mcllvaine endeared himself to 
both congregations of the one Church of the Covenant 
by his wise administration, his eloquent and practical 
preaching and his faithful pastoral oversight. His 
portrait, in the middle parlor, was the gift of his 
friends in the first Church of the Covenant. Dr. 
Mcllvaine is now the Rector of Calvary Protestant 
Episcopal Church, Pittsburg, Pa. 



Cornerstone 

The only visible memorial of the walls of the 
Church of the Covenant at Thirty-fifth Street and Park 
Avenue is the cornerstone which is placed in the west 
wall of the vestibule. This was first laid November 
5th, 1863. It was transferred to this Church Decem- 
ber 1 6th, 1894. It contains the original historical 
matter which was deposited in it when first laid, and 
subsequent historical matter relating both to the 
Church and Covenant Chapel down to the date of its 
transference. Originally it was a rough stone with- 
out inscription, and we are indebted for it to the 
watchful care of Mr. Charles R. Culyer, sexton of the 
Church during its entire history. The present inscrip- 



9 



tion was a labor of love wrought by the hands of 
Mr. John A. Lang, a Deacon of this Church. The 
stone was set in its present niche by Mr. Daniel Keller, 
one of the early converts of the work and who is now 
Deacon of this Church. Mr. Charles Butler, LL.D., 
President of the Board of Trustees of the Church 
during its entire history, in their behalf presented this 
cornerstone to the Trustees of this Church, who were 
represented by their President, Mr. J. Cleveland Cady. 
Dr. Butler, then in the 93d year of his age, closed his 
address with these words : 

" In conclusion, remember that, as this corner-stone was laid 
in the foundation of the first Church, so let it be a symbol in its 
new position, of that true spiritual Corner-stone on which all 
Christian Life, corporate or individual, must rest. And further, 
as this new Church of the Covenant was in its germ one of the 
first and sweetest fruits of the parent Church, and from its begin- 
ning has been richly crowned with the favor and blessing of the 
Master, now that it has for its inheritance embodied in its Corner- 
stone the full record of its ancestry, may that record in its future 
be made brighter and brighter, ever reflecting the light and the 
glory of Him for whose service and glory it was founded." 

Jfattf) tablet 

On the north wall of the auditorium, near the en- 
trance, is the marble bas-relief "Faith," the work of 
the famous sculptor E. D. Palmer. It was purchased in 
1858 by Mr. Wm. Curtis Noyes, one of the founders 
of the Church of the Covenant. Placed in his library 
it expressed the motto of his life till he "fell asleep" 
December 25th, 1864. In 1865 it was placed in the 
Church of the Covenant, north wall, under the gallery, 
where it remained till the Church was demolished. 
The family desired that it be given to this Church. 
The present frame was designed by Mr. J. C. Cady. 
The tablet was unveiled December 16th, 1894. Mr. 



10 



Noyes was a famous lawyer, who declined the honor 
of being a Chief Justice of the United States, and who 
was an esteemed and valued friend of many of the 
leading men of the nation. His personal character 
was thus described by his pastor, Dr. Prentiss: "He 
was an humble follower of Christ, and for a long period 
an active and consecrated member of the Church. He 
loved the House of God, and was a regular attendants 
upon and participant in its weekly meetings. He was 
a priest in his household, leading with earnest delight 
the devotions of his family, and was engaged even 
beyond the knowledge of any but the most intimate 
friends in contributing of his substance to the ad- 
vancement of the cause of Christ both in this and in 
foreign lands." 

Papttemal Jfont 

Our Baptismal Font was presented to the Church 
of the Covenant by Elders Benjamin F. Butler and 
Robert Gordon. It was used for the first time on 
the afternoon of Sunday, April 2d, 1876, at the Com- 
munion Service. On this occasion there were received 
on profession of their faith three sons of Elder Butler, 
viz., Benjamin F. Butler, Jr., Robert Gordon Butler, 
and Allan Macy Butler; also their cousin, Elizabeth 
B. Crosby, daughter of Elder John P. Crosby, and 
William Gordon, the oldest son of Elder Robert Gor- 
don; also Charles R. Culyer, and Samantha Culyer, 
his wife, who was the first person baptized from the 
font. In 1894, after the consolidation of the Church 
of the Covenant and the Brick Church, the font was 
given to this Church. Its motto, "One Lord, one 
Faith, one Baptism," fittingly memorializes that union. 



11 



Covenant jUts&ton 



VER a stable at 206 East Fortieth Street on 
January 28th, 1866, was held the first session 
of the Sunday School, out of which has 
grown this Church. The following officers 
and teachers, were present : Henry A. Backus, J. Cleve- 
land Cady, Henry A. Crosby, William O. Curtis, John 
C. Eastman, Edward C. Miles, Miss Isabel N. Miles, 
Miss Annie L. Prentiss (Mrs. Henry), William Allen 
Smith, Miss Mallville M. W. Smith (Mrs. McClellan), 
William R. Sheffield, and Charles Woolsey. Mr. 
Woolsey was the first Superintendent, but held the 
office for only a few months when he was succeeded 
by Mr. Cady, who has been in continuous service till 
the present time. 

Upon the walls of our Infant Class Room upstairs 
are six framed water-colors, the work of Superin- 
tendent Cady, to illustrate the Sunday School les- 
sons and to point the way for our present lithographic 
pictures. These once adorned the walls of the Cov- 
enant Mission. They are entitled "The End of the 
Flood," "Abraham and Isaac," "The Finding of 
Moses," "Moses Receiving the Ten Commandments," 
"Samuel and Eli," and "David and Goliath." 



Jfflemorial tablet 

On the south wall of the Auditorium near the 
Library door is a tablet erected as "A loving tribute 
from her fellow teachers" to the memory of Mrs. Julia 
B. Cady, whose work was connected entirely with the 
Mission in Fortieth Street, where this tablet was first 
placed. One of our most precious inheritances from 
the Covenant Mission is the collection of Hymns for 

12 



use in the Sunday School, which has been preserved 
on banners prepared by Dr. Charles O. Kimball or 
members of his family. 

The composition of words and music of our 214 
hymns has many sources and represents much earnest 
thought and many hours of valuable time. We give 
one, the words and music of which was written for 
the School in the Mission at Fortieth Street. It was 
sung at the dedication of this building, and is still in 
use in our Sunday School. 

Wbt <§utbe, Jf xitvto anb OTap 

By Julia B. Cady 

There is a tender Shepherd 

Who watches o'er His sheep, 
And they need fear no evil, 

Who in His pastures keep ; 
Christ Jesus is that Shepherd, 

Oh ! grant, dear Lord, that we 
Within Thy living Pastures 

May, safe and happy be. 

There is a Friend most loving, 

A Friend that's ever near ; 
To all our wants and sorrows 

He bows a listening ear. 
That Friend is Christ, our Saviour, 

His heart is full of love ; 
Dear Jesus, may we prize Thee, 

All other friends above. 

O blessed, holy Jesus, 

Thou Shepherd kind and strong, 
Thou Friend so true and loving, 

May we to Thee belong ; 
Our only hope of Heaven, 

The Life, the Truth, the Way, 
May we with sins forgiven, 

Praise Thee in endless day. 



13 



Covenant Cfjapel 



HIS Church building is an evidence of the 
success of the work of the Covenant Mission 
which outgrew its quarters in Fortieth Street. 
In the Session Records of February 5th, 
1870, is found the following minute: "A Committee 
from the Mission School, consisting of Messrs. Lovell, 
Cady, Farnsworth, and Storrs, appeared and made a 
written statement showing the need which exists for 
providing the Mission School with better accommo- 
dations and giving details of a plan for erecting a 
suitable building. The statement was received and 
ordered on file, and its subject matter fully discussed. 
Dr. Post offered the following resolution: "That in 
the judgment of the session it is expedient to make 
an effort at the present time to raise the money neces- 
sary to carry into effect the plan proposed for building 
a mission chapel. The sum being $35,000, the build- 
ing to be called the Memorial Chapel of the Church 
of the Covenant." 

This name, Memorial Chapel, links our building 
with one of the greatest events in the history of the 
Presbyterian Church. In May, 1869, the new School 
Presbyterian Assembly met in the Church of the Cov- 
enant, and at the same time the old School Presby- 
terian Assembly met in the Brick Church in this city. 
At these meetings the union between the old and the 
new schools was determined upon. This re-union of 
the two great branches of the Presbyterian Church, 
that had been separated for thirty-two years, was the 
occasion of great rejoicing. Among other tokens of 
that joy was the raising of a memorial fund for ex- 
tending Christ's Kingdom.. Covenant Chapel was 
named Memorial in honor of that great event. 




14 



The lots and building cost about $50,000. The 
plans were drawn by Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, it being 
the first Church he designed for New York City. His 
heart being in the work to be done in this building, 
the architect gave his best thought to the plans that 
would care for the work. He departed from the con- 
ventional seating, introducing the social grouping and 
the reversible pews for Sunday School classes. Dr. 
Prentiss called it "One of the architectural gems of the 
city." It was for some time a model for other 
churches. On Sunday, December 24th, 1871, the dedi- 
cation services were held. Dr. Prentiss preached the 
sermon and the Hon. Wm. E. Dodge made an ad- 
dress. From that day to the present the building has 
been under the watchful eye of its architect, the results 
of which are seen in its tasteful decorations and fur- 
nishings. Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, a celebrated writer, 
the wife of the pastor and teacher of an adult class in 
the Sunday School, composed the following hymn for 
the dedication: 



Bebtcatton Upmn 

By Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss 

" Thankfully, O Lord, we come 
To this new and happy home : 
Wilt Thou not from Heaven descend, 
Here to dwell as friend with friend, 
Granting us the wondrous grace 
To behold Thee face to face ? 



Teach us here to praise and pray, 
How to live from day to day, 
Teach us who and what Thou art, 
Write Thy name on every heart, 
Make us pure, and clean, and white, 
Blessed Jesus in Thy sight. 



15 



May the weary here find rest 
On the tender Shepherd's breast, 
May the erring cease to stray, 
Learning here the perfect way, 
And the mourner find that here 
Jesus wipes away the tear. 

And when life's short day is o'er, 
And we hither come no more, 
Father, Saviour, loving Friend, 
Guide us to our journey's end, 
Thankful that we often came 
tlere to learn Thy blessed name." 

Rev. Howard A. Talbot. 

In 1867 Mr. Benjamin F. McNeil, a Union Theo- 
logical Seminary Student, was engaged to assist in 
the work of the Sunday School and prayer meetings 
of the Covenant Mission. He was succeeded by Mr. 
George E. Northrup, who bore the title of Chapel Mis- 
sionary 1868-9. Mr. George S. Payson, Mr. J. Henry 
House, Mr. Edgar A. Hamilton, Mr. William Plested, 
and Mr. William H. Ford followed as Chapel Mis- 
sionaries until May 4th, 1875, when the Rev. Howard 
A. Talbot was ordained and began as Chapel Pastor. 
In October, 1875, Mr. Talbot requested that the Lord's 
Supper be celebrated at the Chapel. The first session 
meeting was held here November 8th, 1875, Rev. 
Mr. Talbot, and Elders Dr. Alfred C. Post and Mr. 
W. H. Helme Moore were present. At this meeting 
thirteen members were received, of whom five were 
upon confession of their faith. Before this date seventy 
persons belonging to the Chapel congregation had 
united with the Church, making the nucleus of the 
present Church of the Covenant eighty-three members, 
being the same in numbers as the charter members of 
the Church of the Covenant that was organized thir- 



16 



teen years before. Mr. Talbot gave six and one-half 
years of most devoted service, resigning in October, 

1 88 1, on account of ill-health. From 1 881-1889 he 
was pastor at Merrill, Wis., and in 1889 he became 
pastor of the Presbyterian Church at DePere, Wis., 
where he is much beloved and very successful. The 
portraits of the Chapel Pastors, Talbot, McEwen, and 
Rogers, are the gift of friends in this Church. 

Rev. Henry T. McEwen. 

On November 17th, 1881, the Rev. Henry T. 
McEwen of the class of 1881 of the Union Theologi- 
cal Seminary, was ordained by the Presbytery of New 
York, and began work as minister at Covenant Chapel, 
immediately succeeding the Rev. Howard A. Talbot. 
He labored most successfully till July, 1887, when he 
resigned to accept the call of the Fourteenth Street 
Presbyterian Church of New York. During his min- 
istry there was secured the services of lady visitors, 
one of whom, Miss Anna M. Juppe, began March 1st, 

1882, and has continued until the present time, a 
most valuable help in the administration of benevo- 
lences and in pastoral and Sunday School work. Mr. 
McEwen laid good foundations for the development 
of the Church that has since grown up here. During 
his ministry 212 members were added to the Church 
roll. Dr. McEwen is now the pastor of the Second 
Presbyterian Church, Amsterdam, N. Y. 

Rev. Edwin E. Rogers. 

The ministry of the Rev. Edwin E. Rogers began 
November, 1887, and continued until October, 1889. 
He was a fine preacher and did good work, but a 
severe affliction in the accidental death of an only 



17 



child, and a call to a Church in Zanesville, Ohio, made 
his ministry of brief duration. In 1891 he sent this 
message to us: 

1 ' I feel a familiar interest in Covenant Chapel and in the 
people who worship there. How well do I recall the experiences 
in many homes near that place. As I think of my short work 
there I seem to see my experiences and the experiences of many 
others mingling. We bowed in the awful presence of the Great 
God together. I look forward to a time when in another place 
we may all join with the loved ones who have been taken over 
before us in such hallelujahs as the redeemed will sing before 
the great white throne. Our tears will be wiped away then. I 
shall never cease to pray for Covenant Chapel, for those who 
worship there, and for those who give care, labor, money and 
their prayers to its work." 

Dr. Rogers is now pastor of the Presbyterian 
Church, Bowling Green, Ohio. 

Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D., LL.D. 

One of the most important events in the history of 
this Church grew out of the consolidation of the 
Church of the Covenant at Thirty-fifth Street and Park 
Avenue with the Brick Church at Thirty-seventh 
Street and Fifth Avenue, which was effected April 
1 2th, 1894. 

The relation of the Brick Church to this Church 
was expressed officially in the articles of consolidation 
as follows : "The work heretofore carried on at the 
Covenant Chapel in East Forty-second Street is to 
receive from the Brick Church that cordial sympathy 
and financial support which it has heretofore had from 
the Church of the Covenant." This covenant has 
been more than fulfilled by the generous support of the 
members of the Brick Church led by their pastors, 
who have been most cordial, loving and loyal in their 
sympathies and interest in the work. The pastor of 



18 



the Brick Church who suggested the happy name 
of "affiliation" for this relationship was Dr. van Dyke, 
whose portrait, in our middle parlor, was given us by 
friends in the Brick Church. From the many pleasant 
things that might be said attesting his loving help to 
this Church we select the correspondence that was had 
upon the occasion of his resignation. 

New York, January 6, 1900. 
To the Rev. Henry van Dyke, D.D. LL.D. : 

Dear Dr. van Dyke— We hereby express to you, in behalf of 
the Church of the Covenant, our grateful appreciation of your 
cordial sympathy, loyal interest and generous support, which has 
cheered, comforted and strengthened us in our work during the 
past six years. 

The plan of affiliation, which you inaugurated, and under 
which we have been associated with the Brick Presbyterian Church, 
was a most happy solution of a difficult problem, and has been 
blessed of God to the furtherance of the Gospel of His Son in 
this city. 

We deeply regret the severing of the personal relations that 
have inspired us and blessed our Church, and we shall follow you 
with affectionate regard and with earnest prayer for the richest 
Divine blessing to ever abide in your home and upon your work. 
Cordially yours, 

Geo. Sidney Webster, Pastor, 

Geo. H. Yewell, Daniel H. Wiesner, 
Chas. S. McKay, Lloyd W. Fisher, 

Elders. 

Chas. W. Pack, J as. W. Walker, 

Geo. W. Elkins, J. Eaton Jessup, 

Jos. B. Adsit, Emile J. De Lherbe, 

Deacons. 

J. Cleveland Cady, Chairman Board Trustees, 

Sunday-School Superintendent. 
Chas. O. Kimball, Assistant Sunday-School 

Superintendent . 

Alfred R. Kimball, Treasurer, 

A. R. Ledoux, D. J. Holden, Trustees. 

Anna M. Juppe, Visitor. 



19 



Stanworth, Princeton, N. J. 

My Dear Friend : 

To you, and to the Church of the Covenant, my love and 
hearty thanks for your letter. It came to me on a day of pain and 
brought real comfort. For the providence that brought me into 
relations with the Church of the Covenant I shall ever be grateful. 
You have done me good and not evil, all the years that we have 
been together. From you I have learned much and received true 
help. God bless you all in your work for the Master, and keep 
us always good friends in the fellowship of service. 

Faithfully yours, 

Henry van Dyke. 

January IS, 1900. 

To Rev. George S. Webster and the Church of the Covenant, 
men, women and little children in the unity of Jesus Christ. 

Rev. Maltbie D. Babcock, D.D. 

Dr. Babcock began his service in the Brick Church 
as pastor-elect, Sunday January 14th, 1900, and was 
installed pastor February 27th, 1900. During his brief 
pastorate, which ended with his death at Naples, Italy, 
May 1 8th, 1901, he was the affectionate and interested 
friend of this Church. On Sunday evening, March 
nth, 1900, at an Anniversary service in this Church, 
he gave a most thrilling address, of which the follow- 
ing is a brief report: 

A GREETING AND A PROPHECY. 

"Nothing could be pleasanter or easier to bring you than a 
greeting this evening. Greetings are some of the most delightful 
things in life. I confess I cannot pass a dog without whistling to 
him, or a cat without wanting to pat it, or a child without a smile. 
I more than greet you to-night — I felicitate you, I more than 
felicitate you, I congratulate you. I rejoice with you in what 
God has done for you and through you in these years that have 
passed. 

"But prophesying is another matter. Of the two kinds of 
prophesying, fore-telling and forth-telling, the only one that I dare 
venture upon is the latter, the practical kind, the forth-telling. 

20 



That was the principal business of the prophets of old times, 
who did not so much tell God's people minute events that would 
happen in the future, but announce, trumpet forth, forth-tell the 
consequence that would come upon them in obeying or disobey- 
ing God's great laws. 

" The weather bureau does not guess the future, but watches 
conditions all over the country, and from the disposition of the 
winds, the rise and fall of temperature, the air pressure and the 
like, calculates along the lines of God's working laws, the ten- 
dencies and consequences of visible and immediate conditions. 
Let me then tell you, forth-tell you, and may I not make it fore- 
telling, that if you are loyal to your pastor, encouraging him in 
every way ; if you are faithful as church members in your meeting 
and greeting of strangers as they come to this church, inviting 
non-church goers to make a church-home with you ; and best of 
all, if in your daily life you show what God can do through the 
Spirit of Jesus Christ and His Church and His ministry to make 
you good, useful, joyful Christians, the future of this church will 
be brighter and brighter, and its last ten years be but a bud to 
unfold in new beauty and fragrance and fruitage in the years to 
come." 

Dr. Babcock's portrait, in the middle parlor, is the 
gift of the Babcock Sunshine Circle, a band of girls 
in this Church organized in his memory and who are 
trying to live the sunny Christian life for which he 
was so famous. 

Cfmrcf) jFurmsijmgs 

The organ was built in 1887 by George S. Hutch- 
ings, of Boston, after plans prepared by Mr. J. Cleve- 
land Cady. It costs $1,670, and was the result of 
much self-sacrifice on the part of the congregation and 
their friends who raised the money under the leadership 
of Pastor McEwen. It was rebuilt and enlarged in 
1905 by Kastengren and Peterson, of New York, at a 
cost of $600. The plans were prepared by our organ- 
ist, Mr. Reginald L. McAll, and approved by Mr. S. 
Archer Gibson, the Brick Church organist, and by Mr. 
J. Cleveland Cady. 

21 



The Communion Table was designed especially for 
this Church by Mr. J. Cleveland Cady, and was the 
gift, in 1 89 1, of ten families of the Covenant Chapel 
congregation who contributed $45 for this memorial 
to their "loved and lost awhile." 

The silver communion service was presented to the 
Church March 7th, 1892, by our Assistant Sunday 
School Superintendent, Dr. Charles O. Kimball, and 
our Treasurer, Mr. Alfred R. Kimball, as a memorial 
to members of their own family. It was used for the 
first time April 10th, 1892, on the occasion of the or- 
dination and installation of Dr. Daniel H. Wiesner, 
as Elder, and of Mr. Charles W. Pack, as Deacon. 
The communion was served by Elders Charles O. 
Kimball, Alfred E. Marling, Henry D. Noyes, and 
Daniel H. Wiesner. 

The women of the Covenant Chapel congregation 
raised $600 in November, 1892, for the new pews, 
which were used for the first time February 19th, 
1893. The women also raised the money for the piano 
in the parlor and for the cushions and carpet. The 
pulpit, designed by J. Cleveland Cady, valued at $90, 
was made and presented by a member of the congre- 
gation, Mr. A. Grieshaber, in the Autumn of 1892. 

The tablet containing the Lord's Prayer, in the front 
parlor, was designed and carved by Mr. Nicholas Fred- 
erick Loi, who united with the Church at Covenant 
Chapel, June 13th, 1886, and was a most faithful and 
loyal member until his death in the Home for Incur- 
ables, February 5th, 1905. The tablet was presented 
to Pastor Webster, February 12th, 1894, and by him 
given to the Church. 



22 



FRANCIS HENRY MARLING, D.D. 



®be Jfflarlms JWemorial parlor 



T the Thirty-fifth Anniversary service, held 
Sunday morning January 27th, 1901, the 
sermon was preached by the Rev. Marvin 
R. Vincent, D.D., the Scriptures were read 
by the Rev. Wallace W. Atterbury, D.D., prayer of- 
fered by the Rev. Professor Francis Brown, D.D., 
LL.D., and the benediction pronounced by the Rev, 
Francis H. Marling, D.D. As Dr. Marling came into 
the pulpit for this service the sun shone upon his face, 
lighting it up with a heavenly radiance, which was re- 
marked by many who saw him. Those words of bless- 
ing, prompted by his loving interest in this Church 
for many years, were the last pulpit utterances of this 
noble man of God. The next Sunday morning as he 
was walking from the manse to the Presbyterian 
Church at Port Chester, N. Y., to deliver a memorial 
address upon the Queen of England, he was suddenly 
called home. From 1875 to Dr. Marling was 

the beloved pastor of the Fourteenth Street Presby- 
terian Church, New York. His successor, the Rev. 
Henry T. McEwen, was called there from Covenant 
Chapel. Members of his family belonged to the 
Church of the Covenant and taught in the Covenant 
Chapel Sunday School. He was one of a great host 
of loving friends, who were not directly and intimately 
associated in the work here, but who aided it occasion- 
ally, and who took an affectionate and loyal interest 
in it. His son, Mr. Alfred E. Marling, was for sev- 
eral years the teacher of the Young Ladies' Bible Class. 
He has furnished the South Parlor, our Young Ladies' 
Bible Class Room, with pictures as a memorial to his 
father and our friend. Three of them are copies of 
famous paintings, "Christ in the Temple," Hofmann, 



23 



"Christ Stilling the Storm" and "The Good Shepherd," 
Dietrich. The remaining pictures are enlargements 
of kodak photographs taken in the Spring of 1901 
during a trip to Egypt and Palestine, and are illus- 
trative of the Scripture texts with which they are 
labeled. "Gethsemane, the Kedron Valley and the 
Walls of Jerusalem," Luke 19 137, was taken by the 
Rev. Dr. Maltbie D. Babcock from the western slope 
of the Mount of Olives. The remaining pictures were 
taken by the Rev. George S. Webster. "Water Wheel 
on the Nile," Psalm 65:9; "Plain of Sharon," "Naz- 
areth Oven," Luke 12:28; "Plowing at Bedrashen, 
Egypt," Luke 9:62; "The Wilderness of Judea," 
Matthew 3:3; "Samos," Acts 20:15; "Syrian Shep- 
herd Calling His Flock," John 10:14; "Libyan Desert 
at Thebes, Egypt," Isaiah 32 :2 ; "Olive Tree in Geth- 
semane," Matthew 26 :$6 ; "Galilean Fishermen Mend- 
ing Their Nets," Mark I :iq; "Dr. Babcock at the East 
Gate Damascus," Acts 9:11; "Glacier and Mountains, 
Switzerland," Psalm 72 :3 ; "Bethlehem Sheep Mar- 
ket," Luke 2:15; "Virgin's Fountain, Nazareth," 
Luke 2:51. 



24 



Sfftttatefa Cijurcfces; 

Sermon by Rev. William R. Richards, D.D. 
Pastor of the Brick Presbyterian Church 
Sunday Evening, January 28th, 1906. 

' ' In what place therefore ye hear the sound of the trumpet 
resort ye thither unto us." Nehetniah, 4: 20. 




HEY were building the wall of Jerusalem ; and 
the wall was long while these Jews were few. 
At some unexpected point their enemies 
might break in and destroy their work; There- 
fore Nehemiah arranged this signal of the trumpet. 
He shows thereby the instincts of a great soldier, for 
the captain who can most promptly mass his forces at 
the point of collision is likely to win the battle. 

You have asked me to speak at this Anniversary, 
and to say how the work of the Church of the 
Covenant looks from my point of view. The serious 
problem before all the Christian people of New York, 
from my point of view, is the comparative inefficiency 
of the church in our great cities. In the country at 
large the church is gaining on the population. In 
1850 there was one church for 614 inhabitants; in 
1870, one for 611 ; in 1880, one for 438. Later statis- 
tics would probably show a similar gain. But for the 
principal cities the figures are, 1850, one church for 
3,680 inhabitants; in 1870, one for 5,104; in 1880, one 
for 5,375, a steady loss. The most distressing circum- 
stance is, that in the worst parts of the cities, we find 
the conditions growing steadily more and more un- 
favorable. For the few churches left in such a neigh- 
borhood find it increasingly difficult to maintain them- 
selves ; and therefore are always tending to move away 
to some more religious and congenial environment. 



25 



South of Fourteenth Street there were in 1888 two 
hundred thousand more people than there had been 
twenty years earlier, but there were fourteen less 
Protestant churches. Very lately we have heard of 
one church from the neighborhood of Thirtieth 
Street West moving up to Washington Heights; and 
the old First Church itself must appeal for help from 
outside that it may not be forced to a similar migra- 
tion. So in the city the prospects of the church seem 
to be bad now, and constantly tending to grow worse. 
The trouble seems to be that there is no common man- 
agement such as might combine their various resources 
into one efficient army. Each little church is left to 
defend its own short section of the wall unaided. We 
have no Nehemiah's trumpet, and therefore our ene- 
mies get together more promptly than we. Yet the 
city possesses some immense advantages. With re- 
gard to many human interests we look to it for the 
most encouraging progress. "In the city democracy 
is organizing. It is becoming conscious of its powers. 
There the industrial issues will first be worked out," 
and there was a time when the Christian church also 
made its best showing in the cities. It was in those 
early centuries when Christianity was making its first 
conquest of the ancient world. In the New Testa- 
ment itself, all the great churches that we read of are 
in great cities, such as Antioch, Ephesus, Corinth, 
Rome. Indeed, these centers of population became 
Christianized so rapidly that the word "pagan," or 
countryman came to mean "heathen." 

Now, if we ask for the explanation of that rapid 
progress of the ancient church at the very point where 
we suffer the most discouraging defeat, we find that 
in those days they had just what we lack, namely a 
unity of management for the entire church of every 
great city. I will quote from a letter written some 

26 



1,650 years ago from Rome to Antioch, in which the 
Bishop of the former city speaks of the rich and varied 
resources of his own church: "Forty-six presbyters, 
seven deacons, seven sub-deacons, forty-two clerks; 
readers, janitors, in all, fifty-two; widows and other 
needy more than fifteen hundred ; an innumerable mul- 
titude of people, some of them wealthy ,, ; all in one 
church organization, all following the one plan of 
campaign. No wonder in those days such a church 
moved forward like a mighty army, and made great 
progress against the enemy. 

It may seem almost too much to expect that all 
the many different kinds of Christians in our immense 
metropolis should be thus combined in the near future 
into one single army; although the recent Conference 
of the Church Federation marked a most hopeful step 
toward that end. But it is not too much to hope that 
some of our churches might accomplish this sort of 
unity on a smaller scale. That, from my point of 
view, is the most interesting fact connected with the 
history of this church, whose anniversary we are cele- 
brating. From the first beginning, forty years ago, 
you had been growing up in peculiar relations of af- 
fectionate fellowship with the old Church of the Cov- 
enant, whose honored name you have now inherited. 
This long-continued experience had been training you 
to join in a similar fellowship and co-operation, when 
Providence so appointed, with the Brick Church in the 
middle of the Island, and with Christ Church far over 
toward the West. And so it is that we of these three 
churches now find ourselves set in this central strip 
of this great city, reaching from river to river, not 
as three rival armies, but one army, with one plan of 
campaign, able to respond promptly to the one trumpet 
signal, and to pour in our resources of men or money 
wherever they are needed most. The very thing the 



27 



city church has generally lacked we possess. And 
this relationship was most happily designated by a 
former Brick Church pastor, Dr. van Dyke, as an 
"affiliation, " so that we call them not "Missions" or 
"Branches," but "Affiliated Churches." I believe that 
God has made it possible for us to prove that under 
such unity of management, the church, like the fire 
department, or any other agency of human betterment, 
may show the greatest efficiency and success in the 
heart of a great city. I believe that through these 
forty years God has been preparing you of the Church 
of the Covenant to do a large share in the rendering 
of this immense service to the whole City of New 
York. Speaking of the fire department, I happen to 
live on the same street with an engine house ; and any 
night in the year I am likely to be roused by the sound 
of that ingenious mechanism of salvation rushing past 
my door toward some more or less remote building, 
which has been threatened by this remorseless enemy. 
Before falling asleep again, a languid sense of thank- 
fulness passes through my heart that the city has or- 
ganized so efficiently its army of defence against fire. 
But what it all means was forced more vividly upon 
me a few evenings ago when, just as we were starting 
down for dinner, there came a thundering signal at 
our door; and as we threw it open we found the en- 
gines halting before our house; and the dense clouds 
of smoke pouring from the windows next door; and 
if the fire department had not been organized for the 
promptest service at any point of need our own house 
might have been in ashes. That is the kind of prompt 
service against the spiritual enemy that our three 
Churches must be rendering in this part of New York. 

And that brings to my mind one other thought of 
God's providential guidance. A man who has been 
married happily is apt to let his mind run over the 



28 



past sometimes and think of the strange ways by 
which God has brought together himself and that one 
woman of all the world who was made for him. To 
me this reflection may be peculiarly interesting since 
I myself was born in Boston, and my wife in Shanghai. 
So I have often thought of the different men now 
serving as ministers of these three churches ; and from 
my point of view I cannot refrain from thanking God 
for those ways of His Providence by which He brought 
together just these men who now find such joy in 
doing our work side by side, and hand in hand. So 
long as He may spare us to work on here together, 
I believe that our close association with each other 
will add immensely not only to the pleasure but also 
to the efficiency of our work. At least that is the way 
it looks from my point of view. 

And as to these three churches, I do firmly believe 
that the value of the service either of us can hope 
to render will grow very largely out of the bond that 
binds us all together. God lays upon us the responsi- 
bility of showing how successful a fight can be waged 
against all the powers of unrighteousness even in a 
great city, when His people are thus bound together 
into one army of Jesus Christ. 



29 



Jf ortp gears; of Covenant Jflerctesi 

Address by J. Cleveland Cady, LL.D. 
Sunday Morning, January 28, 1906. 




OMETHING less than fifty years ago, many 
families in New York were gladdened by the 
return of a beloved clergyman — a former 
pastor — from a temporary sojourn in Eur- 
ope, where he had gone for his health some two 
years before. 

The feeling manifested was quite remarkable — it 
was as though some good fortune had come to pass — 
and confident hopes were expressed that he would 
resume his ministry in some field "up town. ,, 

There was good reason for all of these manifesta- 
tions of interest — for the Rev. Dr. George Lewis 
Prentiss, whose return was greeted with such satisfac- 
tion, was remarkable, both in intellect and character. 
When a young man, barely past his majority, he 
visited England and Germany, and with suitable let- 
ters of introduction, not only met the literary men of 
the time — such men as Newman, Coleridge, Faber, 
Carlyle, Wordsworth, Baron Bunsen, Prof. Tholuck, 
and others — but formed an acquaintance with many of 
them that was long and cordially maintained. He 
must have been a very remarkable young man to have 
interested and held the attention of men of such emin- 
ence. The same qualities made a deep impression on 
the best minds and hearts in New York during his 
seven years of Pastorate of the Mercer Street Presby- 
terian Church, and his return to the city was looked 
upon as a great addition to its spiritual forces and in- 
fluence. 

I hardly need tell you that this welcome return led 
to the founding of the Church of the Covenant, and 



30 



J. CLEVELAND CADY, LL.D. 



later the erection of its buildings on the beautiful Park 
Avenue site — and to his installation as its first pastor. 
The people who gathered to his leadership were those 
who had much in common with himself — people of 
unusual intellectual qualities, of refinement, and the 
gentleness we associate with loveliest character, and 
with all, intense devotion to the right, as well as to 
Christian service. The influence and ministration of 
such a pastor, and the environment of such a people 
had great effect upon the young growing up in the 
church. They caught the spiritual tone; they met 
together for prayer, and encouraged each other in the 
Christian life. On one Sabbath afternoon in each 
month, the young men of the church, some thirty in 
number, gathered in a prayer meeting of delightful 
character. It was generally participated in, unconven- 
tional, earnest and affectionate, and an admirable 
preparation for future service, as the devoted Christian 
lives of many of them afterward proved. 

Such gatherings for prayer and experience among 
the young are invaluable. They are a commitment 
to the service of Christ; they encourage and develop 
Christian life, and are nurseries for training and 
bringing forward those who are to uphold the stan- 
dards, when the present generation has passed. More- 
over, the freshness and enthusiasm of such young 
Christians is a contagious and remarkable force, 
capable of much that seems quite beyond the reach of 
the "Fathers and Elders." 

At length this strong religious interest among the 
young people led to a general desire for a field of 
labor, especially their own, and they appointed a com- 
mittee to seek for some hall, or place where they could 
start a Mission Sunday School. After much search, 
the room of an industrial school in East 40th Street 
was hired for Sabbath uses, and it was here that there 



31 



seemed to be an inversion of the Scriptural words, 
"The harvest truly is plenteous, but the laborers are 
few." On the first Sabbath, January 28, 1866, there 
were twelve enthusiastic "laborers," but only one pupil 
to suggest the harvest. 

After a little time the "laborers" were settled in 
their quarters. Their devoted personal efforts made 
the place look a little more tidy and home like. Sup- 
pose we take a glimpse at it as it appeared in those 
days. We pass up a rickety flight of stairs, and along 
a dark narrow hall until we come to a large low 
room, seated with settees. This is the home of the 
Covenant Mission. 

The wide boards of the bare floor spring under our 
feet, owing to a too economic construction, but they 
are scrupulously neat, for the young "laborers," how- 
ever limited their means, will not have filth for an 
environment. The plastered ceiling is badly cracked, 
and rough with many a rude patching. A piano, a 
little lectern for the Superintendent, a blackboard, and 
a "banner case," constituted the furniture. This ban- 
ner case, of stained pine, with its banners, was of 
home manufacture, and a marvel of ingenuity and 
boring, its chief decoration being a perforated strip, 
formed by the judicious use of the auger. On the 
walls are some large, brightly colored Scriptural 
Scenes, also of home manufacture. These alleged 
"water colors" have been produced monthly — for the 
education and edification of the children. Near by is 
the infant class room, about fifteen by twenty-five feet 
(seated with little seats), which three of the male 
leaders have made a marvelous sensation, by painting 
in red, white and blue. They spent several nights in 
accomplishing the result, and perhaps never completed 
a more patriotic work. The bane of the whole place, 
however, is that it is over a stable, the fumes of 



32 



which, at times are disquieting, to say the least. Said 
a teacher of that period, "The rythmn of the singing 
was punctuated by the hoof-beats of the horses." 

It was not the first time, however, that there was 
a noble birth in humble surroundings, in the close 
proximity to stalls and cattle. 

In this case, the inferior shelter was in great con- 
trast to the superior teachers who gathered there. 
Many of them in after years became leaders in work 
of importance elsewhere. Leander Lovell as Super- 
intendent of the Sunday School of the Crescent 
Avenue Presbyterian Church in Plainfield, N. J., with 
a son on the Foreign Mission field; Farnsworth and 
Coit in effective service, the one in Minneapolis, and 
the other at Grand Rapids ; Miss Grace Rankin Ward, 
spending a life-time as a missionary in India; Miss 
Adelaide Beers, afterwards Mrs. House, doing a sim- 
ilar life-long service in Turkey, in co-operation with 
her husband, who had been, for a short time, a pas- 
tor at the Covenant. Mrs. Elizabeth Prentiss, famous 
by her writings, had a large adult class, which she 
held with such interest that they never considered the 
drawback of meeting at 9:15 on Sabbath mornings. 
In passing, it may be mentioned that this class was 
organized partly for strategic reasons. It would evi- 
dently be embarrassing for young people to say they 
were too old to come to Sunday School, when a large 
class of the fathers and mothers were in plain view. 
Time will not permit the pleasant task of mentioning 
in detail the fine self-sacrificing work of such teachers 
as Sheffield, Curtis, Will Smith, Miles, Crosby, 
Greves, SchafT, Yewell, Hooker, Backus, Woolsey, 
Eastman; the Misses Low, Smith, Prentiss, Grant, 
Miles, Denny, Backus, Hooker, Averill, Mrs. Cady, 
and others of that day ; they and their work will never 
be forgotten. To three who have remained in the 



33 



"Covenant" from that early time, I must allude a 
little more particularly, on account of the great value 
of their services. The brothers, Charles and Alfred 
Kimball, in devoted and unselfish service, have been 
sources of strength all the way — the one a spiritual 
and practical force, whose fine abilities were all, and 
always, at hand, wherever needed ; the other a master 
of finance (in fullest sympathy with the work), who 
carried his charge safely through times of stress and 
danger, who was never discouraged; and had the fac- 
ulty of imparting his healthy optimism to others. An- 
other name should be mentioned, that of Charles S. 
McKay, who was converted in the school not long 
after it commenced, and has served it year after year 
in general service, and as Secretary, with rare and 
unvarying loyalty born of deepest affection. 

Mention has been made of prayerfulness as a char- 
acteristic of the young people from whose life the 
Covenant Mission sprang. It never ceased, however, 
to be a marked feature of this work. In its early 
days, when the teachers were not widely separated, as 
Sabbath evening came on, they would informally, by 
twos and threes, drop into the house of the Superin- 
tendent, and after discussing their several experiences, 
engage in prayer, so naturally and informally, that 
prayer seemed very real, and heaven very near. A 
week evening prayer meeting was conducted at the 
Mission, and when it was well established, three 
"neighborhood meetings" were commenced in dif- 
ferent parts of the field where humble homes were 
open to them. Three teachers were assigned to each 
gathering, and they proved to be highly interesting 
and successful. The intimacy that obtained in them, 
so much greater than in a more formal service, seemed 
to prepare the hearts of those present, to receive the 
Holy Spirit. There were many conversions, as well 



34 



as a deepening of the religious life of those in charge. 
Of the converts, many remained in the work, devoted 
and valued helpers; some died in the blessed "assur- 
ance of Hope" — and some, in time, moved from New 
York to other localities. 

A family, whom we will call Nesworth, sent three 
lovely little girls to the Sabbath School. An acquaint- 
ance with them revealed the fact that they were Amer- 
icans; the mother a woman of unusual refinement, 
and the father a ("front brick layer") man of good 
intelligence and integrity. 

There was, however, one heavy shadow upon this 
attractive family, the father had begun to be the vic- 
tim of strong drink, owing to the influence and pres- 
sure of his companions in work. It had not yet gone 
far enough to injure his capacity for service, or to be 
realized by those who met him casually, but his wife 
and daughters grieved over it, and felt that it meant 
ruin for him and their family life. Then the leaders 
at the Covenant became bent on his entire reclama- 
tion. They urged him to submit his life to Christ, 
and insisted that the first step should be the abandon- 
ment of drink. At length both steps were taken, and 
the friends that had urged them, stood by him in the 
dreadful struggle, which followed for nearly a year. 
When tormented by a burning appetite, or tempted by 
drinking companions, he surely would have fallen, had 
it not been for the frequent companionship, the com- 
fort, and courage that these brethren in Christ gave 
him. In time he was thoroughly established in his 
new life and habits; everything connected with him 
gave evidence of improvement, and more and more he 
was becoming a useful member of the church which 
had been so much to him. One day the startling news 
came that this beloved and valued family was to re- 
move to the vicinity of Chicago! That his wife's 



35 



father, who had a large business as market gardener 
and florist, realizing that he was growing old, and 
having now a strong confidence in this son-in-law, had 
invited him to come on and take charge of his busi- 
ness! It was clear that it meant a great deal to the 
Nes worths, but the rejoicing was tempered by the 
sense of the loss to the Covenant! The family, how- 
ever, went to their new home, improved its oppor- 
tunities, and rose in position and influence. One of 
their first efforts was to start a Church and Sunday 
School in their neighborhood, which they made as 
close a copy as possible of the one they had left in New 
York. When last heard from, Mr. N. was an active 
supporter, and Elder in the new church, which was 
rapidly becoming an influence of importance in a 
growing community. Then the serious question arose 
in the minds of those who had so regretted his de- 
parture, whether, after all, it was not often best that 
converts now — as in apostolic times — should be "scat- 
tered abroad" going "everywhere preaching the 
word." 

In time the Church of the Covenant, on Park Ave- 
nue, became fully alive to the importance and needs 
of its work on the East Side. As may be supposed, 
Dr. Prentiss had been most active in his quiet but ef- 
fective way, in arousing his church to their duty. At 
length land was secured and the present building 
erected and dedicated December 24, 1871. 

It was an earnest effort to make the House of God 
the brightest, cheeriest, and most attractive place its 
worshipers could find in all the week, and to great 
numbers as the years passed, it became a "home" 
never to be forgotten. In this new "Covenant Chapel" 
building one would have seen a very considerable 
change in the faces of "laborers" and scholars, many 
of whom had gone elsewhere to live, and their places 



36 



were filled by others. Fortunately the high quality was 
fully maintained by such able and devoted men as 
Samuel J. Storrs, Theron G. Strong, Alfred E. Mar- 
ling, Payson Merrill, Richard C. Morse, Lucius H. 
Beers, Joseph R. Skidmore, George F. Bentley, Noah 
C. Rogers, Benjamin Comstock, Norman Dodge, 
Douglass Moore, William W. Ellsworth, and a quin- 
tette of beloved physicians — Alfred Post, Lucius Bulk- 
ley, Daniel Wiesner, Andrew Currier, and George 
Woolsey. More than this, there were "noble women not 
a few." Notable for long and fine service among the 
latter have been : Miss Anna M. Juppe, church visitor 
and head of the infant school; Miss Mary W. Kim- 
ball, of the Intermediate Department ; Miss Mary Pren- 
tiss and Miss H. L. Keeler, in the main school. 

For nearly thirty years a teachers' meeting was 
maintained, which had the effect of concentrating the 
work of teachers and officers, and by prayer and fel- 
lowship, greatly inspiring it. 

The fact that this work was begun and continued 
in prayer, has doubtless been a reason for the har- 
mony and unity that has existed, without exception, 
through the forty years. The fact, also that the em- 
phasis was placed decidedly on the religious side of the 
work, had a strong influence to this end. Said our 
Treasurer on one occasion, "You will notice that it is 
when the stress is on the secular side of work, and 
the doings connected with purely social matters and 
efforts are absorbing, that people fall out, not when it 
is upon those that concern vital religion." While sec- 
ular, social and entertaining features must have 
their place, the important thing is that they be sub- 
ordinated to the religious interest, and dominated by 
it. The harmony of teachers and officers has naturally 
been reflected in the spirit of the school; and their 
reverent attitude toward sacred things, times, and 



37 



places, has (unconsciously to the scholars) led them 
to respectful order and quiet. Probably no more 
humor-loving and witful young people were ever gath- 
ered than those who founded the Covenant Sunday 
School, unless we except those who have continued in 
it, but seriousness of purpose has always restrained 
levity and trifling in connection with the exercises 
of the school. This reverent attitude has strongly 
conduced to good order and quiet, so that different 
conduct would have seemed strangely out of place. 
Occasionally scholars have come to us from schools 
where disorder was common, and in some cases where 
they were leaders in it, but the atmosphere of the 
Covenant has speedily toned this down, it was one in 
which such growths were stifled. 

While the grading of classes prevailed, in some 
cases teachers have carried the children along to ma- 
turity and to great advantage. Our Assistant Super- 
intendent has thus brought up three successive classes 
from childhood to young manhood, forming character 
and life-long friendships. Gaining the affection of 
the scholars has been one of the strongest aids to suc- 
cess; that object secured, they seem completely, in the 
teachers' hands. Some years ago a large class of boys 
had arrived at the trying age just previous to man- 
hood, and were becoming a puzzling source of trouble. 
Just at that time one of our old teachers came in town 
for the winter and volunteered to take charge of them. 
Soon there was a surprising change in their conduct 
and ere long they became the model class of the school. 
Questioning the teacher as to how the change had 
been affected it was learned that he had found an 
opportunity to do some kindness to nearly every one 
of them. One was completely at odds with his 
parents, and he brought about a happy reconciliation. 
Another was about losing his situation through mis- 



38 



behavior, but he saved it for him, and saved the boy. 
To every one he had given occasion for gratitude and 
had won their hearts completely, he was absolutely 
their ruler, by love. In the following spring all of 
those boys united with the church. Boys at this period 
need special attention, as the dangers that beset them 
are great, and they are peculiarly susceptible, but it 
is worth while. It is well worth extraordinary pains 
to hunt such game. We have a fine class of this age 
at the present time under the devoted care of our 
pastor's wife. The hour on Sabbath morning she 
found would not suffice for their needs — so as a 
"Boys' Loyalty Band" they and others meet at her 
house on a week day evening, a gathering full of in- 
terest and value. It means a sacrifice of time and 
effort — but the gain. The loyal affection and friend- 
ship of such young hearts who can now be moulded 
for all time, who can value it ? Surely love is the key 
to the heart, in Sunday School as elsewhere. 

But to go back — with the occupation of the new 
building the church organization and services began 
to grow in importance. Before that time the students 
connected with the Union Seminary had cared for the 
ministerial part of the work, and the pulpit was 
served in turn by the Revs. B. F. McNeil, George E. 
Northrup, George S. Payson, J. H. House, Edgar A. 
Hamilton, William Plested, and William H. Ford. 

May i, 1875, the latter was succeeded by the Rev. 
Howard A. Talbot, a devoted minister, and especially 
patient and untiring in work upon individual cases. 
After over six years he was called to a Western 
church. The Covenant was again fortunate in a suc- 
cessor (to whom Mr. Talbot called attention), the 
Rev. H. T. McEwen, who was ordained and began 
ministry November 17, 1881. His service was so 
vigorous and earnest that the church was largely in- 



39 



creased in numbers and strength, and was replete with 
active interest. After a service of six years he re- 
ceived an imperative call to the important field of the 
Fourteenth Street Presbyterian Church. The parting 
was a most reluctant one on the part of both pastor 
and people. He also assisted in securing a successor — 
the Rev. Mr. Rogers, a man of spiritual mind and 
most kind and tender feeling. He was greatly be- 
loved. He was followed by our present pastor, whose 
sixteen years in the pastorate have been sixteen years 
of blessing to his flock: who have been shepherded, 
instructed, encouraged, and uplifted, through dark 
days and bright; in sorrow and rejoicing; in trial and 
victory, and in a steady growth of love to God and 
man, that has united it strongly in affectionate unity, 
and has made it a "home," the spirit of which im- 
presses all comers as a rare Christian brotherhood. 
When he came to this charge, the parent church de- 
creed that it should no longer be a Mission, but an 
independent church with its own boards of officers, 
and its independent relations to the Presbytery only 
receiving from its Alma Mater, friendship and aid as 
it needed. When the latter united with the Brick 
Church, not only were these relations continued, but 
the same step was taken in regard to Christ Church 
on the "West Side"; and Dr. Henry Van Dyke in- 
vented and applied the singularly felicitous designa- 
tion to the Brick Church and its two branches of "The 
Affiliated Churches." It is delightful to realize that 
this affiliation has been growing stronger and more 
and more intimate every year, fully justifying Dr. 
Richards' recent expression that "it is a bond of Chris- 
tian fellowship across Manhattan Island." 

From this resume it will be seen that the present 
Church of the Covenant, its Sunday School and var- 
ious agencies for usefulness had their inception and 



40 



growth in the Christian interest of a little band of 
young people, whose aim was to serve Jesus Christ 
and exhalt his religion. This aim has never changed 
through the changing years, and the varying factors 
of the growing work; and while the value of whole- 
some entertainment, and social and industrial features 
have been recognized and availed of, they have always 
been made subordinate to the important purpose in 
view. The constant effort being to develop the re- 
ligious features as fully as possible, to make them 
interesting and impressive. Scripture, the most in- 
spired Hymns, and the choicest music have been 
availed of for this purpose. Much of it has been 
doubtless beyond the full appreciation of the children, 
but it was so excellent that it would bear frequent 
repetition to advantage, and in this process, became 
so rooted in the young minds as to be irradicable, and 
thus a treasury of good things for the future. It 
seems a serious mistake in Sunday School effort to fill 
such minds with trifling and transient matter when so 
much that is of highest value might be stored for all 
time. One day when one of our visitors had ascended 
many stairs to call upon a family whose children at- 
tended the Sunday School, as she mounted the last 
flight she heard a child's voice sweetly singing a 
familiar strain — 

"Who trusts in God's unchanging love 
"Builds on a rock that ne'er can move." 

It was George Neumark's noble hymn, beginning 
"If thou but suffer God to guide thee," sung to the 
"Pilgrim Chorus" from "Tannahauser," and as she en- 
tered she saw a little girl holding her chubby baby 
brother in her arms, singing him asleep to the grand 
hymn and music she had so often sang in Sunday 
School. It had indeed become a household word, had 



41 



entered into the duties of daily life, and was there to 
remain ! 

Twenty-five years ago a strong dissatisfaction was 
felt with the ordinary Christmas Festival, which was 
usually made up of addresses and "entertainment" of 
some kind. The addresses were a bore to the impa- 
tient children, anxiously awaiting amusement and 
possible presents; the presents gave rise to jealousies, 
and the "entertainment" did not seem a worthy way 
of celebrating the birth of Christ. About that time 
some account appeared in the religious press of the re- 
markable work of Pastor Harms and Immanual 
Wichern in Germany, where the people (whole com- 
munities) made their religious exercises and services 
so delightful that they became their keenest interest, 
This suggested the idea of making the Christmas Fes- 
tival such a function, and a scheme was adopted 
which has been followed ever since with great satisfac- 
tion. It involves the preparation of a service composed 
of carefully selected Scripture, interspersed with the 
finest hymns and carols : these arranged with effective 
contrasts and working gradually to a climax. The 
whole is committed to memory by the classes who 
have had the several portions assigned them. The 
music is made familiar by much practice. By a mutual 
understanding, the whole moves automatically; no 
one is called upon to do anything; no directions are 
given or speeches made, and it is entirely an affair of 
the scholars. The eliminating as far as possible, the 
uninspired human element, gives great impressiveness, 
it is a Divine message that is given. This service is 
the gift of the pupils to their parents and friends, and 
not only that, but at the close, they bring forward 
envelopes, with money that they have been saving for 
weeks, as a Christmas offering for some worthy cause. 
It has been for the care of a crippled child in a hos- 



42 



pital ; a horse for a Sunday School Missionary in the 
South; a model cottage for Berea College, Kentucky, 
help and a "Christmas" for a poor struggling Sunday 
School on the "East Side." 

Thus the whole service belongs to the school, which, 
on this day, like its Master, is a giver. Its prepara- 
tion involves no small amount of labor, in the learning 
of Scripture, and the patient practice of music for 
weeks previous, but this effort is all in line with the 
great end in view, and in the process, minds are being 
filled with that which is worth retaining. They are 
not, however, to go without an "Entertainment" full 
of merriment and amusement. When the last re- 
hearsal of music has taken place, they are rewarded 
by one which gives great delight, but the Birth of 
Christ is to be celebrated in a more worthy and suit- 
able manner. A long experience in these services has 
led to a strong sense of the value of appropriateness in 
musical selections of any kind ; by this virtue, a subject 
or sermon may be greatly intensified in point or force ; 
whereas a witless, hapless selection may undo the best 
and most earnest efforts. The music of the church 
should never be an end unto itself, or for the mere ad- 
dition of a certain amount of musical pleasure. It 
should rather be to illuminate the theme of the occa- 
sion, or to glorify the worship and be from first to 
last, "the handmaid of religion." Again, the study of 
Scripture with regard to its effectiveness may be pro- 
ductive of most impressive results. In the Christmas 
and other services, "Christ's humility contrasted with 
His ascended glory ;" "His life absorbed in doing good" 
in contrast with the scornful, and cruel treatment He 
received ; "The needs of each heart and the power and 
will of Jesus to satisfy them," are examples. One 
portion of Scripture is often a fine response or climax 
to another, the impressiveness being wonderfully in- 
creased by the apposition. 

43 



The changeable character of the population in our 
great cities has often been felt to be a serious draw- 
back to religious work. No sooner have excellent 
conditions been attained — with great labor — than 
there is a distressing exodus of those from whose 
important help much was expected. It is a constant 
crushing out of hope and expectation. Yet experi- 
ence shows another and very different side to the mat- 
ter. In the Sunday School and later in this Church 
of the Covenant a fine family of brothers and sisters 
had grown up, with careful training and unusual ca- 
pacity for usefulness. For a long time they were 
hopefully regarded as having great future value to 
the church. Imagine the disappointment when one 
morning it was announced that they were soon to 
move out of town to a home in the country. It really 
seemed as though Providence had made a serious mis- 
take, but when later one of the young men returned 
to the Pastor and Superintendent seeking advice in 
regard to the starting of a "Christian Endeavor So- 
ciety," and a Sunday School (for there was nothing 
of the kind in their region), the doubts about the wis- 
dom of their removal were less positive, and as now 
and then we heard of the good work they accomplished 
the wisdom of Providence was clearly manifest. From 
time to time old teachers and scholars, who have moved 
away, have written for information as to the best 
means of reproducing features that they had loved 
in their old Church or Sunday School, until it has 
been clear that if so many were to pass under this in- 
fluence, and afterward to other localities, it was a great 
opportunity, while they were with us, for a seed-sow- 
ing that should mean a far wider harvesting ; and that 
a work that was in many cases to be regarded as a 
model, and carefully copied, should be conducted upon 
the highest lines possible, that it might be an inspira- 



44 



tion and guide to those who, for a time, came under 
its influence. It certainly is a splendid incentive to the 
highest and best effort. One young fellow upon whom 
his teacher spent much pains for three or four years 
is to-day the head of a Y. M. C. A. in the suburbs of 
Philadelphia. Two have gone to the far West, and 
in new communities are repeating the work of the 
Covenant. A young woman, for a time in the Bible 
Class, and at length in the fellowship of the Church, 
had been led by some strange Providence to a family 
and community without religious life or interest. She 
had been quietly faithful; at length calamity visited 
the place, and she found her opportunity by kindness 
and love to bring Christ to the hearts of those about 
her. These are only a few examples from the history 
of those who have been "scattered." There is cer- 
tainly great encouragement in work among changing 
populations. The field of influence is infinitely wid- 
ened and the prospects of the harvest multiplied a 
hundred fold. 

To-day as we commemorate the fortieth anniversary 
of this work the memories, yes, the very faces of 
those who have been connected with it, whether as 
teachers or scholars, seem to rise distinctly before us! 
How we delight to linger in the gallery of memory, 
recalling the past hallowed by so many tender affec- 
tions, and above all the Presence of the Divine Spirit 
in our midst, working in us and for us. How much 
it all means, we can only dimly see, it is for the future 
to reveal it, but we count it a most blessed thing to 
have had a part in such a service and such a field. And 
so we thank God for giving us a share in it, esteeming 
it as one of the greatest of the blessings with which 
He has blessed our lives. 



45 



Historical Cbents: 

Church of the Covenant, 35th Street and Park Avenue. 

Nov. 25, 1860. First Service in Home of the Friendless. 

Mar. 21, 1862. Church organized with 83 members. 

April 4, 1862. Name " Church of the Covenant " adopted. 

May 11, 1862. Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D. installed pastor. 

Nov. 5, 1863. Church Corner Stone laid. 

May 22, 1864. First Service in Church Chapel. 

April 30, 1865. Church dedicated. 

May, 1869. Last New School Presbyterian General Assembly. 

Feb. 12, 1873. Rev. George L. Prentiss, D.D. resigned. 

May 8, 1873. Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. installed pastor. 

Nov., 1887. Rev. Marvin R. Vincent, D.D. resigned. 

Dec. 17, 1888. Rev. J. Hall Mcllvaine, D.D. installed pastor. 

Feb. 26, 1890. Rev. George S. Webster called to be associate 
pastor. 

Feb. 11, 1894. Last service held in the Church. 

Feb. 14, 1894. Last Prayer Meeting held in the Chapel. 

April 12, 1894. Consolidated with the Brick Presbyterian Church. 

Covenant Memorial Chapel, 306-310 East 42d Street. 
Jan. 28, 1866. Sunday School organized, at 206 East 40th Street. 
April 11, 1867. First Church members received. 
Dec. 24, 1871. Chapel building dedicated. 

May 4, 1875. Rev. Howard A. Talbot ordained and began 
ministry. 

Nov. 14, 1875. First Communion Service held. 
Oct., 1881. Rev. Howard A. Talbot resigned. 
Nov. 17, 1881. Rev. Henry T. McEwen ordained and began 
ministry. 

Mar. 1, 1882. Miss Anna M. Juppe began work as visitor. 
July, 1887. Rev. Henry T. McEwen resigned. 
Nov., 1887. Rev. Edwin E. Rogers began ministry. 
Oct., 1889. Rev. Edwin E. Rogers resigned. 
Mar. 19, 1890. Rev. George S. Webster installed pastor. 
Nov. 8, 1891. Quarter Century Anniversary. 



Church of the Covenant, 306-310 East 42d Street. 
Nov. 30, 1893. Church organized with 266 members. 
Jan. 2, 1894. Rev. George S. Webster installed pastor. 
Dec. 16, 1894. "Faith" Tablet and Corner Stone of old Church 
received. 

Jan. 1, 1897. Quarter Century Anniversary of Church dedi- 
cation. 

Jan. 27, 1901. Thirty-fifth Anniversary. 
Jan. 28, 1906. Fortieth Anniversary. 



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